An Example of a Mother
Establishing a New Normal • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
The greatest relationship you can have is a relationship with Jesus. One of the greatest influences of establishing that relationship with Jesus can come from the example of mother and her relationship with Jesus. That is not always the case. According to the website momjunction.com , “the role of a mother in child development will greatly influence social, emotional and overall development.” I would add that the role of a mother also will greatly influence the spiritual development of a child. Like any kind of influence, a mother’s influence can be positive or negative. We learn in 1 Kings 22:52 that King Ahaziah was influenced by the evil ways of his father and his mother. The Bible 2 Chronicles 22:3 gives her credit as well for encouraging him to do wrong. He only reigned for one year and did evil. Way to go Mom!
There are other examples in the Bible depicting positive influences of women and mothers. We hear much about the Proverbs 31 woman and how she works hard. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 indicates that a mother cares for her children in gentleness.
The wisdom of a godly mother can help you establish a new normal at anytime, especially during a time such as this. Mothers over the years have overcome much, often in the absolute worst of times. Mothers who have followed the ways of God certainly have had influence and seemingly had much success in overcoming and thriving. While our faith is not genetic, the influence we receive from those that we share genes with is vital. An example of this is found in Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Paul makes mention of this in his introduction to Timothy’s second letter.
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
There are several characteristics we can see in this one verse that exemplify a godly mother’s influence. On this Mother’s Day, we can honor these characteristics and celebrate them in out mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and those ladies that have done so much for us. However, we all would do a greater honor for them if we would follow their example by doing what we see in this one verse. The first example of this is Christlikeness.
An Example of Christlikeness
An Example of Christlikeness
When a person exemplifies Christlikeness, they are going to allow their actions speak louder than their words, and their words will also line up with their actions. This is what happened in Paul’s description of Lois and Eunice. Because of how they lived, Paul is reminded of them when he thinks of young Timothy.
I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Christlikeness helps spur good memories and stimulates wholesome thinking. When Paul thought about Timothy, he immediately thought of his spiritual heritage. John Calvin wrote that Timothy was “reared in a his infancy in such a way that he could suck in godliness along with his mother’s milk.” What powerful evidence of Christlikeness!
When Jesus comes into your life, you are different. You will be so one with Him that others will see Him in your life. Do others see Jesus in you?
Paul implies the evidence of Christlikeness is found in sincere faith. The word sincere means without hypocrisy and undisguised. Over the last few months, we have been asked to wear masks for our safety when we have gone out to protect ourselves and others from the spread of a virus. Unfortunately, there are many who claim to be Christians that hide behind masks. They say they are Christ followers but when it comes down to acting like Christ, they hide behind masks and their faith becomes insincere and disguised. When this happens, many are led down paths that cause them to turn away. We need more evidence of a sincere faith and more Christlikeness.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
As offspring of Christ, there should be evidence of our Christlikeness in how we live, how we move and how we exist. In doing so, we are going to be encouraged as indicated in Romans 1:12:
that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
What evidence of your faith prevails?
In addition to the evidence of Christlikeness, there needs to be an earnestness about your walk with Christ. Previously in this series, we talked about making sure you were intentional about being and doing the things of God. This is what it means when you are earnest in the things of God. You move with purpose and sincere intent. When you do so, you will live a life like this grandmother and mother and will be an example of Christlikeness.
Young Timothy had the faith of a grandmother and mother instilled in him and it also provided for him an example of commitment.
An Example of Commitment
An Example of Commitment
In today’s world, there is a breakdown of commitment. Dr. Alex Packer, an author, educator, psychologist who calls himself the “geru of manners to America’s Youth,” wrote, “Broken commitments are one of the great banes of human interaction. Few things are more annoying than people who act irresponsibly, don’t do what they say, and fail to honor their commitments.” He wrote this as the introductory remarks in an article that tells you how to best break a commitment. I think this is a reflection of our times. We have people who call themselves Christians and they do not comprehend the meaning of commitment. The biblical example of Lois and Eunice impacted young Timothy in a way that he was true to his commitment. In fact, it was done in such a way that Paul recognized this in him. Paul speaks in Philippians 2:22 of Timothy’s commitment.
But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
Proving oneself is an example of commitment and following through.
Paul believed in Timothy.
For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Timothy was faithful in the Lord. He was committed. 2 Timothy 1:5 shows us that this came from the influence of a godly mother and grandmother. Paul had known this family for some time. Timothy’s mother Eunice, is first mentioned in Acts 16:1 as a “Jewish woman who was a believer.” Many scholars believe that she became a believer under the ministry of Paul with he was in Lystra. Paul writes with conviction of a sincere faith that is found in all three generations. That can only happen if those three generations had a sense of commitment. Paul knew this commitment first lived in the grandmother, the mother and now was seen in Timothy.
I am thankful that I had two grandmothers that instilled in my mother that would be instilled in me. There were times and have been times where I was not as committed to my faith as I should have been. As I look back on those times, I see that the faith instilled from generation to generation was a determined faith.
They all had the faith as proclaimed in Psalm 119:112:
My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.
That commitment was determined and it was also dedicated.
I cannot remember a time when in my life when I was not getting instruction from God’s word. Both of my grandmothers were faithful in studying God’s word. My Granny Mitchell used to put check marks at each chapter heading after she read it. My mother still has her Bible that has multiple check marks for every chapter in the Bible. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother sharing with me insights from scripture. Timothy obviously received training from God’s word from a mother and grandmother who had a commitment that was dedicated. Paul shares this in 2 Timothy 3;15:
and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
They taught young Timothy the scripture that we have now as part of the Old Testament. I am grateful for our moms, grandmothers, aunts and other women that take the time to teach scripture to our children, youth and adults. We all would do better by following such an example of commitment.
Their commitment was determined and dedicated. As a result, Paul stated and I paraphrase, “I am persuaded Timothy had a sincere faith like his mother and grandmother that lives in him also.”What an example of convincibility!
An Example of Convincibility
An Example of Convincibility
The word persuaded means to be sure, to have confidence, to be convinced. Convincibility, believe it or not, is a real word and not just one I made up! It is the state of being convinced that something is what it is. There is no doubt in Paul’s mind about the condition of Timothy’s faith. Timothy has received a rich spiritual heritage. Now remember, we cannot inherit a faith. We can however, we can see it in action and make a decision that we want to follow in those faith footsteps. You may ask, why in the world would Timothy want to follow in his mother’s and grandmother’s faith? It would be the same reason that you and I would want to do so. They had been convinced of the proof that Jesus came to this world as a man. He lived as a man and died a criminal’s death. He was buried in a borrowed tomb but rose from the dead on the third day and now is with His Father in Heaven interceding for you and me!
Lois and Eunice were convinced that faith in Jesus would give them everlasting life for the future and abundant life in the present. They experienced the proof of the gospel.
They believed with all they were what Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:5-6:
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
The proof led them to lives that became lives of persuasion. We have mentioned that Paul was persuaded that a sincere faith lived in Timothy. This came about because of the evidence and fruit that poured out of their lives. When you know whom you have believed in, you are persuaded that He is able. What a beautiful line that is!
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Major Daniel Whittle was a man of some faith. He served in a regiment of Illinois Army during the Civil War. He called himself a Christian since the age of 17 but struggled giving his all to Christ. When he joined the army at the age of 21, he wrote of his mother, “My dear mother was a devout Christian, and parted from me with many a tear, and followed me with many a prayer. She had placed a New Testament in a pocket of the haversack that she’d arranged for me.” During the war, he spent time reading through the scriptures his mother had given him. He realized that the scriptures were true and surrendered fully to Christ. He was reading that passage from 2 Timothy 1:12 and took those words and penned a poem that would later become a beloved hymn.
I know Whom I Have Believed
I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known.
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His Own.
But “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”
Beautiful words that came about because of a mother’s faith. Major Whittle later became an evangelist and wrote over 200 hymns, including one that called Make Me a Channel of Blessing. He was persuaded by the faith and persistence of a loving, caring mother.
You have been influenced by the faith of your mother in one way or another; this will be either in a good way or a bad way. It will draw you closer or it has turned you away. Either way, God desires for you to have a faith that is Christlike, committed, and one of convincibility. Although it can be influenced from mom and others, it has to be yours because you choose to make it so. What will you do?